Editor’s Note: This is Ben Munson’s first time producing the Today in Manufacturing Podcast and careful listeners may notice that David Mantey’s voice sounds a little off in the recording. Ben is still learning to understand the power of David’s voice and how it can test the limits of traditional recording equipment. Next time, he’ll make sure levels are correct. Thanks for your continued patience and support.
Editor's Note #2: David Mantey apologizes for his voice.
The Today in Manufacturing Podcast is brought to you by the editors of Manufacturing.net and Industrial Equipment News (IEN).
This week's episode is brought to you by Oracle NetSuite. Most organizations have more dashboards, reports and data than ever before, yet decisions still get made on gut feel or anecdote.
The gap is not data, it’s action.
In this practical field guide, Bernie Smith, Director of Made to Measure KPIs and KPI Academy, shares his approach to connecting KPIs to real decisions and measurable improvement.
Download the field guide now to learn how to:
- Make dashboards useful instead of “wallpaper”
- Choose measures people actually trust and act on
- Define clear responses when a KPI moves
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- Connect strategy, measurement, and action
Every week, we cover the three biggest stories in manufacturing, and the implications they have on the industry moving forward. This week:
New Balance May Donate Shuttered Factory to the Town it Vacated
About two years ago, New Balance announced plans to close its plant in Norridgewock, Maine. The move surprised pretty much everyone because the shoemaker is known for its U.S.-based manufacturing footprint.
Ammo Factory Fails to Produce Any Shells After $469M Army Investment
After sending many, many shells to Ukraine, the Army tasked General Dynamics and its existing ammunition plant in Mesquite, Texas, with manufacturing 30,000 M795 High Explosive 155 mm shells each month by October 2025. But a new report said the plant hasn't produced a single shell in two years of operation.
Northwestern Engineers Made a ‘Phantom’ Drone That Vanishes in Plain Sight
Engineers at Northwestern University have created a drone that appears to vanish in plain sight after it takes flight. The Phantom Twist is a drone that uses a concept called "motion blur" — the effect that makes it seemingly impossible to see fast-spinning blades on fans or Road Runner's legs.
In Case You Missed It
Pairs of Glasses Are Boosting Productivity in Some Garment Factories
Operators who received reading glasses also made fewer errors.
3D-Printed, Patient-Specific Contact Lenses in Just 20 Minutes
It uses a newly developed silicone material.
TRISO-X Plots Massive Advanced Nuclear Fuel Expansion in Tennessee
Last week, TRISO-X announced tentative plans to create some 1,140 new jobs in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
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